USA v. Live Nation-Ticketmaster: all the news on the lawsuit that could take down a giant
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images
From Taylor Swift fans crashing Ticketmaster to the federal lawsuit that threatens to break up Live Nation’s alleged monopoly. Ticketmaster parent company Live Nation is facing an antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice and 30 state and district attorneys general accusing the company of having a monopoly in the live ticketing industry.
Live Nation and Ticketmaster had been under regulatory scrutiny when the two companies merged in 2010, but criticisms of the company reached a breaking point when Ticketmaster crashed under the weight of millions of Taylor Swift fans trying to buy tickets for the Eras Tour in 2022. The incident set off a monthslong investigation and a bill that would force ticket sellers to show total prices upfront.
The lawsuit against Live Nation (PDF) claims that its control over ticket sales, promotions, management, and venue ownership gives the company an unfair advantage over competitors. In addition to driving up ticket prices, the DOJ alleges that Live Nation’s dominance allows it to “lock up artists to exclusive promotion deals” and “sign venues into long term exclusive ticketing deals.”
Read on for more updates about the US government’s antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation-Ticketmaster.
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images
From Taylor Swift fans crashing Ticketmaster to the federal lawsuit that threatens to break up Live Nation’s alleged monopoly.
Ticketmaster parent company Live Nation is facing an antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice and 30 state and district attorneys general accusing the company of having a monopoly in the live ticketing industry.
Live Nation and Ticketmaster had been under regulatory scrutiny when the two companies merged in 2010, but criticisms of the company reached a breaking point when Ticketmaster crashed under the weight of millions of Taylor Swift fans trying to buy tickets for the Eras Tour in 2022. The incident set off a monthslong investigation and a bill that would force ticket sellers to show total prices upfront.
The lawsuit against Live Nation (PDF) claims that its control over ticket sales, promotions, management, and venue ownership gives the company an unfair advantage over competitors. In addition to driving up ticket prices, the DOJ alleges that Live Nation’s dominance allows it to “lock up artists to exclusive promotion deals” and “sign venues into long term exclusive ticketing deals.”
Read on for more updates about the US government’s antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation-Ticketmaster.